Eriocephalus africanus L.

Wild rosemary is one of the shrubs that most people in the Cape
know because it is so common in the veld and easy to identify with
its thin, grey leaves, which smell like Vicks when crushed. It is
also a well-known medicinal plant and an excellent shrub for the
waterwise garden.

Eriocephalus
africanus is found mostly on clay and granite slopes throughout
the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Namaqualand. Along this wide
distribution Eriocephalus africanus is very variable, especially
when comparing plants growing in the salty air along the coast with
those growing under much drier conditions inland. In general, they
all form bushy evergreen shrubs up to 1 metre with a silvery, grey
appearance.

Looking at the leaves that are arranged in tufts along the branches,
it is easy to see a number of features that help the plant to survive
with little water. Special features include the grey leaf colour
which reflects sunlight and thereby reduces leaf temperature. The
minute, silvery hairs covering the leaves trap moisture and thus
reduce transpiration. The small, needle-shaped leaves are another
adaptation that limits water loss. The aromatic oils are also thought
to help reduce water loss. Shrubs growing on the coast have succulent
leaves, whereas those growing away from the coast have thinner,
less succulent leaves.

Flowering times vary, but the best displays are in winter when the
whole shrub is covered in small, white flowers. Typical of the family
Asteraceae, the flowers are a composition of 2-3 showy white ray
florets on the outside and purple disc florets in the centre.
On warm days many bees are attracted to the flowers, seeking their
small amounts of nectar. Soon after flowering, fruits are formed
that are covered in long, white hairs. These attractive, fluffy
seed heads look like cotton wool or snow, which gave Eriocephalus
the common name kapokbos in Afrikaans. (Kapok refers to snow).

Growing Eriocephalus africanus

Eriocephalus prefers full sun and well drained soils. In
the western Cape it is best to plant during the wet winter months
so that the plants can establish themselves before the dry summer.
Wild rosemary is fairly hardy and will grow in most gardens throughout
the country.

Mass plantings of Eriocephalus flowering in winter are very
beautiful, but they also make striking combinations in smaller groups
planted with Aloe arborescens, Metalasia muricata (blombos)
Coleonema album (confetti bush), Melianthus major
(kruitjie-roer-my-nie) and restios. The shrubs can be pruned lightly
to encourage bushy growth, to shape into a hedge or even a ball.
The root system is well developed with a taproot that can penetrate
the soil to a depth of 6 m, and lateral roots that extend about
2 m around the plant and are closer to the surface. This extensive
root system makes Eriocephalus africanus resistant to drought
and able to recover from grazing by animals. New plants are easy
to propagate from seed or cuttings. The seed may be sown in autumn
or spring and germinates within 10 days. Eriocephalus roots
easily from tip or heel cuttings taken in spring or autumn.

Wild rosemary has traditionally been used as a medicine for many
ailments like coughs and colds, flatulence and colic, as a diuretic
and a diaphoretic. A tea is usually made with 1 cup of boiling water
and a sprig of wild rosemary. In her book on indigenous herbs, Margaret
Roberts mentions that wild rosemary seems to have similar qualities
to ordinary rosemary as both have an invigorating effect on the
skin and hair. She suggests boiling springs of wild rosemary (1
measure of twigs and flowers to 2 measures of water) for 15 minutes
and when cooled to add it to the bath or to use as a hair growth
stimulant and conditioner. Wild rosemary can also be used for cooking,
in sachets and pot-pourris.

In southern Africa there are 34 species of Eriocephalus,
all with woolly fruits.